© Alberto E. Rodriguez | Getty ImagesSpeaking to Variety in early August 2022, James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson say it’s still “early days” in the search for the next 007 actor, but whoever it is, must be in it for the long haul.
“The thing is, it’s going to be a couple of years off,” Broccoli notes. “And when we cast Bond, it’s a 10-, 12-year commitment. So he’s probably thinking, ‘Do I really want that thing?’ Not everybody wants to do that. It was hard enough getting [Daniel Craig to do it].” Wilson interjects: “And he was in his early 30s at the time!”
“That’s why, when people go, ‘Oh, who are you going to get?’ it’s not just about casting an actor for a film. It’s about a reinvention, and ‘Where are we taking it? What do we want to do with the character?‘” says Broccoli. “And then, once we figure that out, who’s the right person for that particular reinvention?”
“A lot of people think, ‘Oh yeah, it’d be fun to do one,‘” Broccoli laughs out loud. “Well. That ain’t gonna work.” Wilson added, “It’s a big investment for us, too, to bring out a new Bond.”
The duo also re-affirm that despite the Amazon take over of MGM, Bond will remain a theatrical entity. “We’re trying to keep it theatrical,” Wilson notes. “Well, we’re gonna keep it theatrical. We’re not going to try; we’ve got to do it. It’s just a theatrical franchise,” says Broccoli.
